Snowplay Area Opens

The snowplay area at Paradise will open this Saturday (Dec. 18, 2010), as reported in the Tacoma News Tribune,

"Good news for the fans of the snowplay area at Paradise. Conditions are good enough that the sledding area should open as planned on Saturday. “Yesterday we measured about 7 feet of snow at Paradise,” said Mount Rainier National Park district ranger Uwe Nehring. Park officials like to have at least 5 feet of snow on the ground to protect the small trees, brushes and sensitive plants in the area."

The rules for the snowplay area are as follows.

"Snowplay - Sledding and Sliding
The snowplay area at Paradise is generally open late December through mid-March, depending on snow. Sledding and sliding are permitted only in the designated snow play area at Paradise. Trees, tree wells, and cliffs make other areas dangerous. For everyone’s safety, use "soft" sliding devices—flexible sleds, inner tubes, and saucers. No hard toboggans or runner sleds."

While this isn't photography related, it's still fun if that's your pleasure. And it is snow.